Cover For A Food Container And Method Of Using Said Food Cover On A Container

ABSTRACT

A food cover comprising matter that absorbs ethylene gas or which otherwise acts to retard the spoiling process of food stored in a container covered by the food cover, and a method of using and benefiting from a food cover which is comprised of matter that actively slows down the food spoiling process of food stored in a container that is covered by the provided food cover.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Provisional Patent 61/254,202

STATEMENT REGARDING SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM

Not applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to lids and covers for food containers and to methods for using a cover on a food container, and more specifically, this invention relates to an expandable or contractible cover that can be fitted over a variety of different sizes of food containers where the food cover is comprised of matter that eliminates bacteria, inhibits mold formation, and absorbs or adsorbs ethylene gas or other gases in order to retard the food spoiling process.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The “Debbie Meyer Green Bag” is a storage product sold by Housewares America, Inc. Television commercials for the product claim it will keep fruits and vegetables fresh for up to 30 days by absorbing ethylene gas, which they claim to be the major cause of fruits and vegetables going bad. A television commercial for the product shows specific examples of different fruits and vegetables comparing them between being stored in the bag, and without. The product's website claims that Oya is a mineral form of Zeolite and it's the ingredient that facilitates the gas absorption. The bags are colored differently to identify different effects they have on food and thus their application for a particular type of food. For example, green bags are used for fruits and vegetables, yellow bags are used for breads and grains, red bags are used for meats, and blue bags are used for cheese. The bags can be re-used, but they sometimes smell like the food that was stored in them and in that case, they must be replaced.

“Always Fresh” containers are commercially-available plastic food storage containers that also include matter that absorbs ethylene gas to retard food spoilage without the need for freezing, and they come in a variety of sizes and have tight-fitting lids that provide an airtight seal.

Plastic covers for bowls and other containers are available commercially that expand and contract as necessary to fit snugly over a variety of different sizes of food containers, such as bowls. They usually have an elastic band on their outer rim to facilitate latching onto the container's sides to provide a snug fit and a somewhat airtight seal. The obvious advantages of the expandable plastic covers are they can be quickly and easily placed over just about any size or type of container that contains food, and they seal effectively enough to retard the aging or food spoiling process.

However, there are currently no plastic covers available that are comprised of an elastic band for grabbing the container's sides in order to provide a fairly airtight seal where the plastic cover is also comprised of matter that absorbs or adsorbs ethylene gas or other gases in order to retard the food spoiling process. There are also no relatively inexpensive plastic covers available that have an elastic band or other means for easily, quickly, and tightly grabbing the container's sides in order to provide a fairly airtight seal where the plastic cover is comprised of matter that either kills bacteria or retards mold formation so food stays fresher for relatively longer periods of time while being stored. Moreover, there are no prescribed methods available comprised of first providing a cover that has an elastic band and which is comprised of matter that actively retards the food spoiling process, and then using the provided cover to seal edible matter inside a food container of any size or shape and comprised of any matter that may or may not have the same characteristics as the matter comprising the cover.

OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES

It would therefore be advantageous to provide an inexpensive, reusable cover comprised of an elastic band so the cover will fit easily, quickly, and tightly over a variety of containers of various shapes and sizes where the cover is comprised of matter that adsorbs or absorbs ethylene gas or other gases in order to retard the food spoiling process of food stored in the container being covered. It would also be advantageous to provide an inexpensive and reusable cover comprised of an elastic band so the cover will fit easily, quickly, and tightly over a variety of containers of various shapes and sizes where the cover is comprised of flexible and possibly expandable matter that reduces the amount of harmful bacteria and retards the formation of mold on the food being stored in the container in order to keep the stored food safer to eat and fresher for a relatively longer period of time. It would be further advantageous to provide a method comprising first providing a cover with an elastic band that fits over and covers containers of various shapes and sizes where the cover is also comprised of matter that reduces the amount of ethylene gas, other gases, bacteria, moisture, or mold in the environment immediately surrounding food stored in a container that is covered by the provided cover, and then using the provided cover for keeping the food stored in the container fresher and safer to eat for relatively longer periods of time without the need for freezing the stored food.

SUMMARY

A cover that is inexpensive to produce is provided that is comprised of an elastic band for allowing the flexible and possibly expandable cover to be placed easily, quickly, and tightly over a variety of different containers of various shapes and sizes where the cover is comprised of matter that adsorbs or absorbs ethylene gas or other gases in order to retard the food spoiling process of food stored in the container being covered, or the cover may be comprised of matter that reduces the amount of harmful bacteria and retards the formation of mold on the food being stored in the container in order to keep the stored food safer to eat and fresher for a relatively longer period of time. A method is also provided comprising first providing and then using a cover comprised of an expandable band for sealing and matter that reduces the amount of ethylene gas, other gases, bacteria, or mold in the environment immediately surrounding food stored in a container that is covered by the provided cover for the purpose of keeping the food stored in the container fresher and safer to eat for relatively longer periods of time without the need for freezing the stored food.

DRAWINGS Reference Numerals

-   1. Flexible and expandable matter that absorbs (or adsorbs) ethylene     gas, kills bacteria, retards mold formation, or reduces the moisture     content of air -   2. Elastic band or other means for holding a cover to a container -   3. Food container comprised of any matter and of any shape or size -   4. Food or perishable edible matter being stored in a container -   5. Compartment in cover for holding consumable and replaceable     matter that absorbs (or adsorbs) ethylene gas or other gases, kills     bacteria, retards mold formation, or reduces the moisture content of     air

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a cover comprised of an elastic band 2 and matter that absorbs or adsorbs ethylene gas or other gases, kills bacteria, or reduces mold formation 1 on the food being stored. There is also an optional compartment shown for holding consumable and replaceable matter that absorbs (or adsorbs) ethylene gas or other gases, kills bacteria, retards mold formation, or reduces the moisture content of air 5.

FIG. 2 illustrates a food container 3 that may be comprised of any composition, shape or size that has food 4 inside.

FIG. 3 shows the cover comprised of flexible and expandable matter that absorbs (or adsorbs) ethylene gas, kills bacteria, and retards mold formation 1 on food covering the food container 3 with food 4 inside as the elastic band 2 firmly fastens to the sides of the food container. Note in this case the matter comprising the cover absorbs (or adsorbs) ethylene gas or other gases, kills bacteria, retards mold formation, or reduces the moisture content of air and there is no replaceable and consumable matter that performs the same functions in the optional compartment for holding such matter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF METHOD

The end result of performing the method also known as the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 3, but the method known to be the present invention and is comprised of first providing a cover comprised of an elastic band and flexible, expandable matter that adsorbs or absorbs ethylene gas or other gases, kills bacteria, or retards the formation of mold on food or produce, and providing a food container comprised of any matter in any shape or of any size that contains food or other edible matter to be stored, then stretching the elastic band on the provided cover over and around the sides of the provided container containing food, then insuring the provided cover provides an airtight seal on the provided food container, then allowing the matter comprising the provided cover to adsorb or absorb ethylene gas or other gases, kill bacteria, retard mold formation, or reduce the moisture content to keep the food inside the provided container safer and fresher for a relatively longer period of time, then removing the provided cover from the provided food container by expanding the elastic band of the provided cover and lifting it over the sides and off of the provided container, then removing the food from the provided container as needed for being consumed as desired.

Additional Embodiments

Although the description above contains much specificity, this should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention, but as merely providing illustrations of the presently preferred embodiment of this invention. For example, the matter comprising the container cover may have one or more characteristics that inhibit the food spoiling process. For instance, matter may be contained that adsorbs or absorbs only ethylene gas but other gases may be adsorbed or absorbed as well. The cover may or may not be comprised of matter that inhibits mold formation, that kills bacteria, or that reduces the moisture content of air inside a sealed container. In words, the cover is essentially comprised of matter that actively reduces the amount of ethylene gas, bacteria, moisture, or mold inside the container, but the matter comprising the cover does not necessarily have to do all those things together as long as the main objective of extending the time the matter stored in the container stays safe and fresh to eat is accomplished. Conversely, the cover may be comprised of a compartment that holds replaceable and possibly consumable matter that adsorbs or absorbs ethylene or other gases, inhibits mold formation, kills bacteria, or that reduces the moisture content of air inside a sealed container and where the cover itself may be comprised of any common matter, such as plastic that does not have the same characteristics for inhibiting the food spoiling process. Any provided compartment on the cover should be arranged so the replaceable and possibly consumable matter effectively and actively works internally on the environment inside a food container covered by the cover with matter inside the compartment that actively reduces the amount of ethylene gas, bacteria, moisture, or mold inside the sealed container. The main intent of the present invention is to provide means and a method for quickly and easily storing food in a manner that maintains the freshness of the stored food for extended periods of time by removing gases, bacteria, and mold from the environment surrounding the stored food. Any cover comprised of an elastic band and comprised of matter that acts somehow to retard the spoiling process of food being stored in a container being covered by the cover will quickly be recognized by one skilled in the art as being an embodiment or adaptation of the means known as the present invention. Any use or method performed for the purpose of storing food for prolonged periods of time in a container of any composition, shape, or size where the cover is comprised of an elastic band and matter that reduces the amount of ethylene gas, other gases, bacteria, or mold in the environment surrounding the food stored in the container will also be recognized by one skilled in the art to be an embodiment of or the actual method also know to be the present invention.

Finally, it is conceivable to provide renewable and possibly consumable matter that absorbs or adsorbs ethylene gas or other types of gases, kills bacteria, inhibits mold formation, or reduces the moisture content of air which can be applied in gel, liquid, or solid form to the inside surface of a cover that is comprised of matter that has no active food-preserving characteristics and has no compartment for holding such active food preserving matter. In other words, the active food-preserving matter is directly applied from a separate dispensing unit in a gel, liquid, or solid form so it sticks to or bonds to the inside surface of a cover with an elastic band that's possibly comprised of simple and cheap non food-preserving matter, such as plastic. The mentioned food-preserving matter may also be enclosed in a separate pouch or container that's not a part of the cover so that the pouch or container holding the food-preserving matter is simply placed under the cover before it is used to seal in the freshness of food enclosed in the container and where the food-preserving matter acts directly on the air inside the sealed environment surrounding the food inside the container.

The present invention has been produced and sold commercially as ‘Cover Fresh Food Covers’ in online and regular hardcopy catalogs. They have proven to be distinguishable (unobvious) from competing, but less effective products such as the Debbie Meyers Green Bags, the Always Fresh containers, and regular plasticized food covers with an elastic band (that look similarly to shower-caps) because customers can quickly and easily identify the differences and benefits of the Cover Fresh Food Covers, which is the present invention, and the advantages derived from using a food cover that absorbs ethylene gas or does other things to keep stored food fresher for longer. In other words, Cover Fresh Food Covers, also known to be the present invention, have been shown to be a successful and very useful commercially-available product because it can be quickly identified by potential customers to have unique characteristics and abilities unlike any other competing product! Cover Fresh Food Covers, the present invention, combines the best attributes of several known products and presents a commercially-accepted alternative that is beneficial and advantageous over each of the individual products that have been combined, and from which the present invention has been derived.

Thus, the scope of this invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given. 

1. A stretchable, expandable cover comprised of an elastic band or other means for fastening said cover to a variety of food containers comprised of matter of different sizes, shapes, and composition where said cover is also comprised of airtight matter that absorbs or adsorbs ethylene or other gases, kills bacteria, or inhibits mold formation on food stored in said food container covered by said cover, whereby said cover actively retards the food-spoiling process of said food stored inside said food container covered by said cover, and whereby said cover actively works to increase the amount of time said food can be safely and freshly stored inside said food container covered by said cover without being frozen.
 2. The cover in claim 1 wherein said other means for fastening said cover to a food container is comprised of a string or a cord that can be tightened or loosened by hand, a zipper, or any other plastic sealing mechanism.
 3. The cover of claim 1 wherein said airtight matter comprising said cover is plastic, vinyl, or rubber.
 4. A method of using a cover on a food container comprising, first providing a cover comprised of an elastic band and flexible, expandable matter that adsorbs or absorbs ethylene gas or other gases, kills bacteria, or inhibits the formation of mold on food or produce, and providing a food container comprised of any matter in any shape or of any size that contains food or other edible matter to be stored, then stretching said elastic band on said provided cover over and around the sides of said provided container containing food, then insuring said provided cover provides an airtight or loose seal on said provided food container, then allowing said matter comprising said provided cover to adsorb or absorb said ethylene gas or other gases, kill said bacteria, and retard said mold formation to keep said food inside said provided container safer and fresher for a relatively longer period of time without freezing, then removing said provided cover from said provided food container by expanding said elastic band of said provided cover and lifting said cover over the sides so it is off said provided container, then removing said food from said provided container as needed for being consumed as desired.
 5. A plastic cover comprised of an elastic band for holding said plastic cover onto a food container comprised of matter of any size, shape, or type where said plastic cover is also comprised of a compartment of any type that can hold renewable and possibly consumable matter that absorbs or adsorbs ethylene gas or other types of gases, kills bacteria, inhibits mold formation, or reduces the moisture content inside the sealed environment surrounding food stored inside said food container covered by said cover.
 6. The cover in claim 5 wherein said renewable and possibly consumable matter that absorbs or adsorbs ethylene gas or other types of gases, kills bacteria, inhibits mold formation, or reduces the moisture content of air which is placed inside said compartment on said cover is in the form of a pellet, a packet, a gel, a liquid, a solid, or which has no other covering or containment means at all.
 7. The cover in claim 5 wherein said renewable and possibly consumable matter that absorbs or adsorbs ethylene gas or other types of gases, kills bacteria, inhibits mold formation, or reduces the moisture content inside the sealed environment surrounding food stored inside said food container covered by said cover is in gel or solid form and is placed on the inside surface of said cover from a separate dispensing unit provided for that purpose each time the cover is used to cover food in said food container so said food-preserving matter applied to the inside surface of said cover can act directly on the air surrounding said food inside said container covered by said cover. 